<p>Xiggi: I apologize for arguing so much. I was just trying to explain my case better. There have to some universities where I can study for free. That is all I was asking and only a few like Myos1634 gave the answer. The rest (like you) just gave me “You don’t have a chance.” which obviously isn’t true. Anyways, thanks.</p>
<p>Here is how it goes. You asked a question about which schools could give you a full ride and explained that you were no longer a freshman applicant. People with some experience tried to tell you would be a transfer student. Regardless of that part, your SAT scores will not entice many schools to subsidize your education. Hence, my comment about not having much of a chance based on your presentation and the facts as they are known here.</p>
<p>This said, I recommended to stop wasting time by polling people with whom you disagree. So, get going on your application. Nothing people on CC might say will matter as the colleges make that decision. </p>
<p>So, it makes no sense to argue. Just find out for yourself … as we all had to do.</p>
<p>parthchavo, there are 3 issues here. I’m going to address all 3 with an honest, realistic approach.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Transfer vs New Applicant
You started college in India, but want to start over in the United States as a new applicant, as opposed to a transfer student. This is actually the right path for you. International transfers are pretty much impossible. Technically, you are not allowed to ‘restart’ college, and lying about this on your college application is fraud. However, this is what many international students do. It is also what you should do.</p></li>
<li><p>School Choices/Getting Accepted
SAT is not on a linear curve. It is a test that is scaled to an approximately normal curve. Your 1780 is merely a 79th percentile. A 2100 is a 97th percentile. You have a lot of work to do. Even if you do achieve that score, your chances for UIUC and Austin admission are close to zero.</p></li>
<li><p>Money/Scholarship
Your friend got a scholarship probably because he had a hook. Winning an international level competition combined with solid SAT is a good way of getting into very good American universities. Public universities do not offer amazing financial aid even to US students. Your statistics are not good enough for a full scholarship at all the schools you want to attend. On the private side, there is a substantial amount of need based financial aid. However, these schools are mostly not need blind for international students. In fact, there are only 6 school that are need blind to international (Amherst, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Realistically, if you are dead set on coming to the US for college (and I feel that your major transfer issue is just an excuse that is used to justify to your own decision), you need to 1) Raise you SAT score, 2) Drop your standards by at least 6 notches. Look at schools that you have never heard of and can’t imagine attending. As other have said, your undergraduate education does not matter that much for graduate school, which is something I imagine you want to do. 3) Do more research. You need to apply to scholarships. Most schools will not offer you money when you apply for admission. You are pretty much guaranteed acceptance at at least one university, but paying for schooling will be the big problem.</p>
<p>“Technically, you are not allowed to ‘restart’ college, and lying about this on your college application is fraud. However, this is what many international students do. It is also what you should do.”</p>
<p>This is exceptionally bad advice. If at any time in the future your previous academic record comes to light it can mean (depending on the time of discovery) that your application is rejected, your acceptance is rescinded, you are expelled from the university after enrollment, your degree is cancelled after being awarded. And yes. Every single year these things do happen. People have lost degrees years after believing them completed, and have had their careers destroyed because of that.</p>
<p>If you can’t change programs at your current university and just start over there, why can’t you change universities in India?</p>
<p>xiggi: Okay, thanks.</p>
<p>Zonlicht: You probably cleared everything up. Thanks a ton! I’ll start working on my SAT right away. And no, the major change was not an excuse but one of the reasons that I want to study in the US. </p>
<p>So one last question- If undergrad school doesn’t matter, why is dropping my standards a bad option? Does it mean that the only thing that separates the ‘known’ schools from the ‘unknown’ schools is the level of education? cause I don’t really care about the level of education, I am very good at self-teaching, have been doing it throughout school.</p>
<p>happymomof1- I won’t take such a risk myself. I’ll probably consult someone regarding this. If you look at it from a different perspective, I should be a better candidate for studying Physics after studying college-level Math for a year :P</p>
<p>I can’t change my major in Delhi University and the other universities in New Delhi for pure sciences are totally unknown (which would make it really difficult for me to go to a good grad school in the US). I also have other reasons for going to the US, won’t mention them.</p>
<p>@parthchavo</p>
<p>I don’t think I expressed the notion that dropping your standards is a ‘bad option.’ It is what you need to do if you want to come study in the US. What you learn in college is pretty much the same across all schools. You are no stranger to competition since you managed to get into University of Delhi. Students at better schools will push you to achieve. The friends and connections you make might last a lifetime. More reputable universities do make your life easier for the purpose of finding a job. They make it easier for you to get accepted to graduate school, but it is something that you can work to overcome. After you attend graduate school, for all practical purposes, only the name on your graduate degree matters.</p>
<p>Zonlicht- I understand. And yes that is what I was trying to tell everyone, I don’t have bad grades, I got into the University of Delhi 
Thank you once again. You helped a lot!</p>
<p>You need to say A1 = % in the country; University of Delhi = ranked top 1% in the country. Even Americans with specialized knowledge of foreign schools CANNOT know all schools and their place within their school system and country.</p>
<p>Were you ADMITTED and registered to U Delhi
or
did you actually take one year of classes with one year of credit (and a transcript, etc)?
Situation 1 = you’re a freshman
Situation 2= you’re a transfer</p>
<p>East Tennessee State admits international transfers with scholarships. However a 22 ACT is enough to qualify you for the honors program so I don’t think it’d be a good pick. 
I’d pick Minot or another school like UMN Morris (which would lead you easily to UMN Twin Cities for grad school) or Truman (good reputation the area also) over East Tennessee State.</p>
<p>Got it. Thanks! I’ll be a transfer, I guess. Will call up the university once to check.</p>
<p>I have another question. I looked up and there are many liberal arts colleges which give need based financial aid to international students. Should I apply to these colleges?</p>
<p>You can, but do find out about their Physics and Math departments. What courses are offered? Where do the students go for grad school?</p>
<p>Many LACs are an excellent preparation for grad school. Choose LACs in the big “regions” where your favorite grad schools are located (Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Northeast…).
First, request information, especially wrt to transfers since LACs may have significant financial aid for freshmen, but typically only take 20-50 transfers (domestic AND international) per year.
In addition, look at the regional universities since their policies toward international transfers may be more lenient, especially if you have high SATs and few credits.</p>
<p>Got it. I read somewhere that the highest number of PhD candidates in the US come from LACs. So it would be better than some unknown university, I think. Thanks again!</p>
<p>You need to diversify your list; you could apply to Minot State &its honors college* (a regional university), UMN-Morris (which is a public LAC), Grinnell (national LAC)… You need to have at least 2 where you’re in the top 10% applicants and 3 where you’re in the top 30% applicants.</p>
<ul>
<li>Honors college= special program for students who are especially motivated. They typically have privileges like better dorm, first choice of classes at registration, opportunity for research… and receive special scholarships.</li>
</ul>
<p>Hmm okay, got it.</p>
<p>parthchavo -</p>
<p>If you haven’t already done so, read through the information at <a href=“https://www.educationusa.info/[/url]”>https://www.educationusa.info/</a> Then make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in Indial: <a href=“https://www.educationusa.info/India[/url]”>https://www.educationusa.info/India</a> EducationUSA is a not-for-profit organization and the counselors pride themselves on offering accurate unbiased information about higher education in the US. They should be able to help you identify places here that will help you meet your goals.</p>
<p>I called them up already. I’ll go to them as soon as I finish with the tests. Anyways, I have decided to give the ACT instead of the SAT because I don’t have excellent vocabulary or grammar in English (it’s my second language). I checked out the format and I am pretty sure I’ll peform way better in the ACT. I’ll post here again after I’m done with all of this. So anyways, thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>In addition to the US programs, check what is offered in the UK and the rest of Europe. Germany has been particularly generous with Asians.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that UK rarely gives financial aid to international students. All the undergrad courses in Germany were in German. Also, I don’t think I can live in a country where I can’t speak the language.</p>
<p>“I have decided to give the ACT”</p>
<p>You are not going to give the ACT. You are going to take it. Or you are going to present it. Or you are going to do it. Or if you must be British about it, you are going to sit it.</p>
<p>Yes I know many students in India use “give” instead of “take” in this instance, but in the US teachers “give” exams.</p>
<p>And now you can start correcting all of your pals on this issue.</p>